Toy



J. G. LIEBERT.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 15, I921.

Patented July 5, 1921.

way.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME G. LIEBERT, OF HIGHLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO ROBERT RAYMOND RIORDON, OF HIGHLAND, NEW YORK.

TOY.

Application filed February 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jnnoun G. LIEBERT, residing at Highland, in the county of Ulster and State of New York, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention seeks to provide a toy in which a number of tumbling objects will be actuated by gravity to travel over defined paths in simulation of a race.

One object of the invention is to provide Simple means for controlling the start of the race.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a toy embodying my invention, the parts being arranged for the start of the race.

F ig. 2 is a similar View showing the tumblers passing from the upper track onto the lower track.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention, I employ an upper inclined platform 1 and a lower reversely inclined platform 2 which are supported by standards or posts 3, the higher end of the lower platform 2 projecting somewhat beyond the lower end of the upper platform 1 so as to receive objects dropping from the upper platform. Upon the upper surface of each platform, I provide a plurality of longitudinal ridges 4;, the intervening valleys 5 forming tracks down which the tumblers 6 may travel. In the upper surface of the platform 1, near the upper end thereof, is a transverse kerf or groove 7 in which a barrier or starter gate 8 may be engaged. This barrier is preferably a sheet-metal plate of such thickness that when engaged in the kerf 7 it will be supported in position across the tracks 5 and will prevent movement of the tumblers. The tumblers are tubular containers having closed hemispherical ends and in each container is a loose ball 9.

The action is thought to be evident. To start, the barrier is engaged in and supported by the kerf or groove 7 and the tumblers are placed on the upper platform Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 5, 1921.

Serial No. 445,148.

in rear of the barrier, as shown in Fig. 1, one tumbler being placed in each track. When the barrier is removed, the tumblers immediately gravitate down their respective tracks and pass over the lower end of the upper platform onto the higher end of the lower platform as shown in Fig. 2. The tracks on the lower platform are alined with the respective tracks on the upper platform so that the tumblers will be kept in separate well-defined paths throughout their travel. The tumblers will be finished in different colors or otherwise distinguished so that the players may choose diflferent tumblers and easily identify the winner which 'will be the first one to reach the lower end of the lower platform. The containers constituting the external members of the tumblers should be of material very much lighter than the balls placed within them so that the balls will be relatively free to roll down the inclines. When a ball reaches the lower end of its container, its momentum will impart to it a tendency to ride up the end wall of the container, the result being that the container is caused to first stand on end and then roll over, its higher end becoming its lower end until the operation is repeated. The movements of the tumblers are continuous so that they appear to be trying to stand up but succeeding merely in falling as fast as they reach an upright position, thus creating imuch amusement.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is A toy comprising upper and lower platforms reversely inclined relative to each other, each platform having a plurality of parallel tracks thereon, the tracks on the lower platform being vertically alined with the respective tracks of the upper platform, a plurality of tumblers adapted to travel over the platforms, each tumbler running in one track, and removable means for temporarily restraining all the tumblers at the upper end of the upper platform.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JEROME G. LIEBERT. 

